Primary Childrens Hospital-A Scary day

On November 2nd, my world was completely flipped around.  Griffin had been complaining of a stomach ache the day before but I didn't think much of it as he had been eating more candy then normal due to Halloween.  That night he woke up breathing short quick breaths but still complaining about his stomach.  I figured his short breathing was due to it hurting. We tried to have him calm down as I once again thought he was hyperventilating and overeacting.  He just needed to calm down.  We had him sleep the remainder of the night in our room.  He didn't sleep well and his breathing was abnormal and he moaned throughout the night.  The next morning I called the pediatrician and scheduled him to be seen.  I assumed he had caught some stomach bug and a bit of antibiotics and rest would be all that he would need.  I could tell he wasn't feeling well.  

As we pulled into the doctors office and I got him out of the car he looked at me and said, "Mom, I said a prayer that I would be okay, and that I would be brave.  I'm scared Mom."  I gave him hug and told him that he was going to be fine and the doctor will be able to help him feel better and know what we needed to do.  Little did I know that 20 minutes after that conversation, My son would be lying motionless, turning blue and in critical condition.  

As we entered the doctors office the nurse took his vitals.  I could tell Griffin didn't want to be there but my mind was distracted with my youngest Drake needing to go to the bathroom.  As I walked back into the room from taking my littlest one to the potty the Doctor had arrived and started asking him questions.  He told me he wanted to do a breathing treatment on him and that he had some concerns.  We talked about a possible ambulance escort as I wasn't allowed to leave the office with the oxygen tank they were thinking he needed.  I'll be honest in that I wasn't thrilled with where this was going.  The nearest hospital is up the street and my mind immediately went to, what's that going to cost me, I got him here okay i'm sure I can drive down the road for an x-ray.  It was at that moment that I noticed Griffin's voice slur, his eyes roll back into his head and his body colapse.  The nurse closest to him caught him.  Griffin couldn't breath, his face, lips and body began to turn blue.  The doctor began to scream to the front desk personnel to call 911 as he worked on my son. Every nurse, assistant, and doctor in that building were running into our room trying to get my boy oxygen, and keep him alive.  EMT's arrived, realized he needed to be at Primary Childrens Hospital but unsure that he would handle the drive.  Life Flight was being called in but it was discovered they were already in route and 20 minutes out.  The EMT's decided not to wait, grabbed my boy and we began the drive to Primary's. I left my youngest in the care of the Pediatric staff while a neighbor came to get him so I could ride with Griffin.  The EMT's got him talking again but it was short and with extreme effort.  His body was working so hard. 

In the ambulance

 I was told that they were going to do there best to get him to Primary Children's hospital but that it was highly likely we may have to stop at a different hospital in route if he continued to decline to stabilize him.  Griffin held strong and we made it to Primary's.  Upon our arrival, the doctors and staff at Primary's were there waiting for him by the door rushing him into the emergency room to get him stable.

ER Room

 The doctors were struggling to get Griffin to cooperate and relax enough to do what they needed to.  Daddy had the idea of putting on a movie on the Ipad  in an effort to distract him from what was going on and relax him. We were told he would have to be sedated if  this didn't work.   Luckily he was able to calm down enough to do what was needed to get him stabilized and breathing.

 Once "stabilized" he was placed in the PICU.

 We were told that we should plan on being here for awhile.  That kids as sick as he was have a minimum stay of 7 to 10 days just in PICU.  The first night was rough.  Really rough.  Alarms were beeping and nurses and doctors would rush in trying to adjust things.  I was told that they would most likely have to incubate him, which meant sedation and other medications to keep him under.  They didn't want to go that route as it is much more intrusive but that I should prepare for the possibility.  The large machine that would incubate him sat just outside the door waiting for him at any moment his oxygen levels went below a certain point, Oxygen levels where he was teetering close to back and forth.  The machine he was on currently was working at it's maximum capacity.  He wasn't allowed to eat or drink, not that he was feeling up to it anyway.  A feeding tube was placed in him to help give him nourishment in the hopes his body would find the strength it needed to fight off the infection.  He was diagnosed with pneumonia and a nasty virus call rhinovirus. The combination of the viral and bacterial infection was almost deadly to my little man.

My sister brought me some clothes and got me this shirt.  "After this, we're getting tacos"

 Prayers were had and felt.  We had numerous visitors (not all pictured below).  The outpouring of love was astonishing.

Aunt Lisa came and read him stories

Aunt Brooke brought him gifts and letters of Get wells.

Grandpa entertain him with "get the spider"

 Many other's shared their support.  My sweet friend drove all the way from Payson to bring me dinner and support as she too had previous experiences with staying at Primary's for extended time.  Her information and knowledge was so helpful.

 The following afternoon it was like a switch was turned on.  Griffin started getting better at an unheard of rate.  That morning they were ready to incubate him but wanted to give him one more hour "just to see," to having him show signs of breathing on his own and suggesting that the mask be removed for the night to see if he can hold his own.  Everyone on staff kept telling me they've never seen this kind of turn around this quickly.

 Still very sick but hopeful.  My little Griffin was beginning to show sign's of his old, loud, lovable self.

Griffin was schedule to ride in his first BMX race that weekend.  He was quite upset that he wouldn't get to ride but Daddy bought him a surprise bike plate in effort to cheer him up and encourage him to continue to get better.  Griffin asked that I send the commentators at the race a picture of him and his plate and let them know that he wished he could be there.  As requested I did just that.  

 The following morning we got the great news that we would be transferred out of ICU and moved to the children's Medical Unit (CMU) for the remainder of his recovery.

Once in CMU Griffin was able to receive his first drink and meal.

 The boys were able to come visit Griffin here.  Griffin had missed his brothers and I think his brothers were missing him too.

 After one night in CMU Griffin was cleared to go home.  His lungs showed zero signs of being sick.  Kids with pneumonia usually are more likely to get it again and often have scaring, however they said that Griffin was no more likely to get it again then any other kid who had never had it.  As we were walking out, one of the ICU doctors walked by with his colleagues.  Griffin looked at him and shouted, "I'm going home today!" The doctor looked at him, then turned to his colleagues and said, "would you have ever guessed that two days ago this boy would be going home?  What you are looking at is a miracle."   

Getting check out. (He didn't really want his picture taken, he just wanted to go)

I am so beyond grateful for all the prayers, love, and support on his behalf. They were felt.  His recovery is nothing short of a miracle.  We were checked in on Thursday and coming home Sunday Morning.  I'm not sure why I was the recipient of such a blessing but I am humbled and thankful for this blessing.  I can't imagine what the outcome would have been had we not been at the doctors.  There quick thinking and work is what kept him alive and kept him from having future problems down the road.  The EMT's were amazing and rushed us as if he was one of there own.  I am forever grateful to all those who helped my Griffin.  He truly is a light.  He brings joy to anyone who know him.  I love you Griffin.  SO glad i get another hug, another i love you, another kiss, and another cuddle.